Workforce Violence

RESEARCH PAPER: DEALING WITH WORKPLACE VIOLENCE

Dealing with Workplace Violence

Denise Chickilly-Kennedy

Misericordia University

Abstract

Today’s workplace has become a place of high stress and tension and you would be surprised how your place of work can become violent in a split second. Organizations must be cautious when hiring and terminating employees and must be prepared for all types of consequences. The proper policies and procedures must be created to prevent violence in the workplace. All employees must know what to do if a situation turns violent and the safety plan in place needs to be followed accordingly to prevent casualties. It is important to recognize acts of violence in the workplace can come from a diverse group of offenders. Your co-workers, former manager, and customers have the potential to behave in a violent mannerism. At times the individual responsible for committing a violent act does not always fit a certain stereotype. Therefore; this paper will prove why employers must have structured and specific policies to prevent violence in the workplace in order to ensure the safety of all employees in today’s work environment.

Violence in the workplace is publically recognized as its own separate category when referring to types of violent crimes committed. Crime types committed at work are typically; minor cases of assaults, stalking, sexual harassment, and psychological abuse. There are three different classifications of workplace violence according to Gregory O. Ginn (2002). Ginn (2002), states the first type is committed by strangers; the second by a customer or client of the organization; and third is committed by a former or current employer.

According to the USDA (2010), a safer workplace is what is expected from every employee and the employer needs to provide a secure work environment and have prevention measures in place to respond quickly when a situation arises at work. The...